Elastomeric high capacity laminated rotary wing aircraft bearing for rotary wing aircraft

Abstract

An elastomeric high capacity laminated (HCL) bearing for rotary wing aircraft and method of making is provided. The elastomeric HCL bearing is mold bonded using structural adhesives with a given elastomeric subassembly tensile strength between a first metal first laminate end structural bond shim and a second metal distal laminate end structural bond shim. The structural adhesive has a limited elongation and a first end tensile strength ≧elastomeric subassembly tensile strength.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A rotary wing aircraft bearing to provide a constrained relative motion between a first rotary wing aircraft member and a second rotary wing aircraft member,
 an elastomeric mold bonded laminated subassembly, said elastomeric mold bonded laminated subassembly including a plurality of mold bonded alternating layers of interior nonelastomeric shim members and interior elastomeric shim members, said interior elastomeric shim members including a first laminate end elastomeric shim and a distal second laminate end elastomeric shim, 
 said first laminate end elastomeric shim having a first side mold bonded to a first end interior nonelastomeric shim member and a second side mold bonded to a first metal first laminate end structural bond shim, 
 said distal second laminate end elastomeric shim having a first side mold bonded to a distal second end interior nonelastomeric shim member and a second side mold bonded to a second metal distal laminate end structural bond shim, said elastomeric mold bonded laminated subassembly having an elastomeric subassembly tensile strength ESTS between said first metal first laminate end structural bond shim and said distal second laminate end elastomeric shim, 
 said rotary wing aircraft bearing including a first end bearing connector first metal member for connecting to said first rotary wing aircraft member, a first end structural chemical adhesive post-elastomeric mold bond between said first end bearing connector first metal member and said first metal first laminate end structural bond shim, said first end structural chemical adhesive post-elastomeric mold bond having an elongation of at least 11%, and a first end tensile strength FETS with FETS ≧ESTS, 
 said rotary wing aircraft bearing including a second end bearing connector second metal member for connecting to said second rotary wing aircraft member, a second end structural chemical adhesive post-elastomeric mold bond between said second end bearing connector second metal member and said second metal first laminate end structural bond shim, said second end structural chemical adhesive post-elastomeric mold bond having an elongation of at least 11%, and a second end tensile strength SETS with SETS ≧ESTS. 
 
     
     
       2. A rotary wing aircraft bearing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first end structural chemical adhesive post-elastomeric mold bond is comprised of a spherical shell segment. 
     
     
       3. A rotary wing aircraft bearing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said second end structural chemical adhesive post-elastomeric mold bond is comprised of a spherical shell segment. 
     
     
       4. A rotary wing aircraft bearing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first end bearing connector first metal member and said first metal first laminate end structural bond shim consist essentially of the same metal composition. 
     
     
       5. A rotary wing aircraft bearing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said second end bearing connector second metal member and said second metal distal laminate end structural bond shim consist essentially of the same metal composition. 
     
     
       6. A method of making a rotary wing aircraft bearing to provide a constrained relative motion between a first rotary wing aircraft member and a second rotary wing aircraft member, said method including:
 providing an elastomeric subassembly bonding mold for receiving a plurality of alternating layers of interior nonelastomeric shim members and interior elastomeric shim members, a first metal first laminate end structural bond shim, and a second metal distal laminate end structural bond shim, 
 providing a plurality of interior nonelastomeric shim members, 
 providing a plurality of interior elastomeric shim members, 
 providing a first metal first laminate end structural bond shim, 
 providing a second metal distal laminate end structural bond shim, 
 disposing said interior nonelastomeric shim members, said interior elastomeric shim members, said first metal first laminate end structural bond shim, and said second metal distal laminate end structural bond shim in said elastomeric subassembly bonding mold with said interior nonelastomeric shim members and said interior elastomeric shim members alternating and sandwiched between said first metal first laminate end structural bond shim and said second metal distal laminate end structural bond shim, 
 mold bonding said interior nonelastomeric shim members, said interior elastomeric shim members, said first metal first laminate end structural bond shim and said second metal distal laminate end structural bond shim together in said elastomeric subassembly bonding mold to provide an elastomeric mold bonded laminated subassembly with said alternating layers of interior nonelastomeric shim members and interior elastomeric shim members sandwiched between said first metal first laminate end structural bond shim and said second metal distal laminate end structural bond shim, said elastomeric mold bonded laminated subassembly having an elastomeric subassembly tensile strength ESTS between said first metal first laminate end structural bond shim and said second metal distal laminate end structural bond shim, 
 providing a post-elastomeric mold bond structural chemical adhesive, 
 providing a first end bearing connector first metal member, 
 providing a second end bearing connector second metal member, 
 bonding said first end bearing connector first metal member and said first metal first laminate end structural bond shim with said post-elastomeric mold bond structural chemical adhesive to provide a first end structural bond having an elongation of at least 11%, and a first end tensile strength FETS, and 
 bonding said second end bearing connector second metal member and said second metal distal laminate end structural bond shim with said post-elastomeric mold bond structural chemical adhesive to provide a second end structural bond having an elongation of at least 11%, and a second end tensile strength SETS with SETS ≧ESTS and FETS ≧ESTS. 
 
     
     
       7. A method of making a rotary wing aircraft bearing as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein providing a plurality of interior nonelastomeric shim members, providing a first metal first laminate end structural bond shim, and providing a second metal distal laminate end structural bond shim, includes
 providing a plurality of spherical shell segment interior nonelastomeric shim members, 
 providing a first spherical shell segment metal first laminate end structural bond shim, and 
 providing a second spherical shell segment metal distal laminate end structural bond shim. 
 
     
     
       8. A method of making a rotary wing aircraft bearing as claimed in  claim 7  including maintaining a post-elastomeric mold bond structural chemical adhesive bond thickness between said first end bearing connector first metal member and said first metal first laminate end structural bond shim during an adhesive bond cure time to provide a first spherical shell segment bond, and maintaining a post-elastomeric mold bond structural chemical adhesive bond thickness between said second end bearing connector second metal member and said second metal distal laminate end structural bond shim during said adhesive bond cure time to provide a second spherical shell segment bond. 
     
     
       9. A method as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said first end bearing connector first metal member and said first metal first laminate end structural bond shim are comprised of a first metal composition. 
     
     
       10. A method as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said second end bearing connector second metal member and said second metal distal laminate end structural bond shim are comprised of a second metal composition. 
     
     
       11. A method as claimed in  claim 6  including
 maintaining a post-elastomeric mold bond structural chemical adhesive bond thickness between said first end bearing connector first metal member and said first metal first laminate end structural bond shim during an adhesive bond cure time to provide a first end post-elastomeric mold bond structural chemical adhesive bond thickness, and 
 maintaining a post-elastomeric mold bond structural chemical adhesive bond thickness between said second end bearing connector second metal member and said second metal distal laminate end structural bond shim during said adhesive bond cure time to provide a second end post-elastomeric mold bond structural chemical adhesive bond thickness. 
 
     
     
       12. A method as claimed in  claim 11 , including a providing a fixturing jig, disposing said rotary wing aircraft bearing in said fixturing jig during said adhesive bond cure time. 
     
     
       13. A rotary wing aircraft bearing to provide a constrained relative motion between a first rotary wing aircraft member and a second rotary wing aircraft member, said bearing including
 an elastomeric mold bonded laminated subassembly, said elastomeric mold bonded laminated subassembly including a plurality of mold bonded alternating layers of interior nonelastomeric shim members and interior elastomeric shim members, said interior elastomeric shim members including a first laminate end elastomeric shim and a distal second laminate end elastomeric shim, 
 said first laminate end elastomeric shim having a first side mold bonded to a first end interior nonelastomeric shim member and a second side mold bonded to a first metal first laminate end structural bond shim, 
 said distal second laminate end elastomeric shim having a first side mold bonded to a distal second end interior nonelastomeric shim member and a second side mold bonded to a second metal distal end member, said elastomeric mold bonded laminated subassembly having an elastomeric subassembly tensile strength ESTS between said first metal first laminate end structural bond shim and said second metal distal end member, 
 said rotary wing aircraft bearing including a first end bearing connector first metal member for connecting to said first rotary wing aircraft member, a first end structural chemical adhesive post-elastomeric mold bond between said first end bearing connector first metal member and said first metal first laminate end structural bond shim, said first end structural bond having an elongation of at least of at least 11%, and a first end tensile strength FETS ≧ESTS, 
 said second metal distal end member mechanically grounded to said second rotary wing aircraft member. 
 
     
     
       14. A rotary wing aircraft bearing as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said first end structural chemical adhesive post-elastomeric mold bond is comprised of a spherical shell segment. 
     
     
       15. A rotary wing aircraft bearing as claimed in  claim 13 , said first end structural chemical adhesive post-elastomeric mold bond is tubular. 
     
     
       16. A rotary wing aircraft bearing as claimed in  claim 15 , said first end structural chemical adhesive post-elastomeric mold bond is comprised of a conical shell segment. 
     
     
       17. A rotary wing aircraft bearing as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said first end bearing connector first metal member and said first metal first laminate end structural bond shim consist essentially of the same metal composition. 
     
     
       18. A rotary wing aircraft bearing as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said second metal distal end member is comprised of a tube. 
     
     
       19. A rotary wing aircraft bearing as claimed in  claim 18  wherein said distal second end interior nonelastomeric shim member has a shim thickness T  interiorshim , and said second metal distal end member tube has a tube thickness T tube  with T tube  >5 T interiorshim . 
     
     
       20. A rotary wing aircraft bearing as claimed in  claim 18  wherein said first metal first laminate end structural bond shim has a shim thickness T exteriorshim  with T tube  >5 T exteriorshim . 
     
     
       21. A rotary wing aircraft bearing as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said first end interior nonelastomeric shim member has a shim thickness T interiorshim  and said first metal first laminate end structural bond shim has a shim thickness T exteriorshim  with T exteriorshim  ≧T interiorshim . 
     
     
       22. A method of making a rotary wing aircraft bearing to provide a constrained relative motion between a first rotary wing aircraft member and a second rotary wing aircraft member, said method including:
 providing an elastomeric subassembly bonding mold for receiving a plurality of alternating layers of interior nonelastomeric shim members and interior elastomeric shim members, a first metal first laminate end structural bond shim, and a second metal distal end member, 
 providing a plurality of interior nonelastomeric shim members, 
 providing a plurality of interior elastomeric shim members, 
 providing a first metal first laminate end structural bond shim, 
 providing a second metal distal end member, 
 disposing said interior nonelastomeric shim members, said interior elastomeric shim members, said first metal first laminate end structural bond shim, and said second metal distal end member in said elastomeric subassembly bonding mold with said interior nonelastomeric shim members and said interior elastomeric shim members alternating and sandwiched between said first metal first laminate end structural bond shim and said second metal distal end member, 
 mold bonding said interior nonelastomeric shim members, said interior elastomeric shim members, said first metal first laminate end structural bond shim and said second metal distal end member together in said elastomeric subassembly bonding mold to provide an elastomeric mold bonded laminated subassembly with said alternating layers of interior nonelastomeric shim members and interior elastomeric shim members sandwiched between said first metal first laminate end structural bond shim and said second metal distal end member, said elastomeric mold bonded laminated subassembly having an elastomeric subassembly tensile strength ESTS between said first metal first laminate end structural bond shim and said second metal distal end member, 
 providing a post-elastomeric mold bond structural chemical adhesive, 
 providing a first end bearing connector first metal member, 
 bonding said first end bearing connector first metal member and said first metal first laminate end structural bond shim with said post-elastomeric mold bond structural chemical adhesive to provide a first end structural bond having an elongation of at least 11%, and a first end tensile strength FETS with FETS ≧ESTS. 
 
     
     
       23. A method of making a rotary wing aircraft bearing as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein providing a plurality of interior nonelastomeric shim members, providing a first metal first laminate end structural bond shim, includes providing a plurality of spherical shell segment interior nonelastomeric shim members, providing a first spherical shell segment metal first laminate end structural bond shim. 
     
     
       24. A method of making a rotary wing aircraft bearing as claimed in  claim 23  including maintaining a post-elastomeric mold bond structural chemical adhesive bond thickness between said first end bearing connector first metal member and said first metal first laminate end structural bond shim during an adhesive bond cure time to provide a first spherical shell segment bond. 
     
     
       25. A method as claimed in  claim 22  wherein said first end bearing connector first metal member and said first metal first laminate end structural bond shim are comprised of a first metal composition. 
     
     
       26. A method as claimed in  claim 22  including maintaining a post-elastomeric mold bond structural chemical adhesive bond thickness between said first end bearing connector first metal member and said first metal first laminate end structural bond shim during an adhesive bond cure time to provide a first end post-elastomeric mold bond structural chemical adhesive bond thickness. 
     
     
       27. A method as claimed in  claim 26 , including a providing a fixturing jig, disposing said rotary wing aircraft bearing in said fixturing jig during said adhesive bond cure time. 
     
     
       28. A method as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein said first end structural chemical adhesive post-elastomeric mold bond is comprised of a spherical shell segment. 
     
     
       29. A method as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein said first end structural chemical adhesive post-elastomeric mold bond is tubular. 
     
     
       30. A method as claimed in  claim 29 , said first end structural chemical adhesive post-elastomeric mold bond is comprised of a conical shell segment. 
     
     
       31. A method as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein said second metal distal end member is comprised of a tube. 
     
     
       32. A method as claimed in  claim 31  wherein said distal second end interior nonelastomeric shim member has a shim thickness T interiorshim , and said second metal distal end member tube has a tube thickness T tube  with T tube  >5 T interiorshim . 
     
     
       33. A method as claimed in  claim 31  wherein said first metal first laminate end structural bond shim has a shim thickness T exteriorshim  with T tube  >5 T exteriorshim . 
     
     
       34. A method as claimed in  claim 22  wherein said interior nonelastomeric shim members have a shim thickness T interiorshim , and said first metal first laminate end structural bond shim has a shim thickness T exteriorshim  with T exteriorshim  ≧T interiorshim .